A solid-state imaging apparatus including: an image section having a plurality of pixel units arranged into a matrix, each pixel unit having at least one subunit consisting of an electric charge generation means for generating signal electric charges corresponding to the amount of incident electromagnetic wave and a signal transfer means for transferring signal electric charges generated by the electric charge generation means, an electric charge accumulation means for accumulating the transferred signal electric charges, a first reset means for resetting the electric charge accumulation means, an amplification means for amplifying a signal corresponding to signal electric charges accumulated at the electric charge accumulation means, and a select means for selectively outputting the amplified signal to a vertical signal line; and a signal transfer assisting means for making a gradient of potential in the vicinity of the electric charge generation means toward the signal transfer means to be greater at the time of transfer of the signal electric charge than at the time of non-transfer.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: an image section having a plurality of pixel units arranged into a matrix, each pixel unit having at least one subunit having an electric charge generation means for generating signal electric charges corresponding to the amount of incident electromagnetic wave and a signal transfer means for transferring signal electric charges generated by said electric charge generation means, an electric charge accumulation means for accumulating said transferred signal electric charges, a first reset means for resetting said electric charge accumulation means, an amplification means for amplifying a signal corresponding to signal electric charges accumulated at said electric charge accumulation means, and a select means for selectively outputting said amplified signal to a vertical signal Line; and a signal transfer assisting means for making a gradient of potential in the vicinity of said electric charge generation means toward said signal transfer means to be greater at the time of transfer of said signal electric charge than at the time of non-transfer, said signal transfer means contains a first MOS transistor, and said signal transfer assisting means contains a second MOS transistor, wherein said first MOS transistor is activated at its control electrode at the time of transfer of said signal electric charge, and at the same time a potential of an opposite polarity from an activating potential is applied to said second MOS transistor at its control electrode.
2. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second MOS transistor is used as a second reset means for resetting said electric charge generation means.
3. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second MOS. transistor is used as a second reset means for resetting said electric charge generation means.
4. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said second MOS transistor is activated at its control electrode at the time of a reset of signal electric charges of said electric charge generation means, and at the same time a potential of an opposite polarity from an activating polarity is applied to said first MOS transistor at its control electrode.
5. The solid-state Imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said second MOS transistor is activated at its control electrode at the time of a reset of signal electric charges of said electric charge generation means, and at the same time a potential of an opposite polarity, from an activating polarity is applied to said first MOS transistor at its control electrode.
6. A video camera comprising: the solid-state imaging apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or 2 - 5 ; a lens for forming an object image on said solid-state imaging apparatus; and a signal processing means for effecting a predetermined signal processing on video signals from said solid-state imaging apparatus to generate a luminance signal and a chroma signal.
7. A digital still camera comprising: the solid-state imaging apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or 2 - 5 ; a lens for forming an object image on said solid-state imaging apparatus; and a signal processing means for processing signals from said solid-state imaging apparatus.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 5, 2008
August 16, 2011
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.